Introduction to Global Warming

CSPE Links

This month's CSPE feature is about the environment. There are many worrying signs recently that human activity has damaged our environment. Scientists argue over these assertions. In this article we present the arguments and the evidence to support them. Some of the material is complex and so you may have to read some sections a number of times so that you fully understand it. In order to become a responsible citizen it is important that we care about our environment. To care properly for the environment we need to understand it and how our actions impact on it. This requires having some scientific knowledge so that you can decide for yourself the reliability of evidence put forward by scientists.

As well as the effect of global warming there are a number of other problems facing our environment. These include the depletion of the ozone layer and the damage caused by pollutants such as acid rain. These issues will be examined in future editions of Student Xpress.

One of the effects of living in a very prosperous economy is the amount of waste we produce. Recycling in Ireland is under utilised. We are in danger of using up very valuable resources that have built up over millions of years and leaving nothing for future generations. In the process irreparable damage may be caused to the Earth. With a little bit of care and thought for the future major mistakes can be avoided.